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LEED Certification in Building Energy Efficiency: A Review of Its Performance Efficacy and Global Applicability

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Michelle Leite Ribeiro

    (Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil)

  • Taylana Piccinini Scolaro

    (Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil)

  • Enedir Ghisi

    (Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil)

Abstract

This review aimed to critically assess the effectiveness of LEED certification in enhancing the energy performance of buildings. This study discusses the background to the creation of LEED, the LEED energy performance assessment, the consumption of certified buildings compared to non-certified buildings, the consumption predicted by simulations versus actual consumption, and the influence of considering thermal insulation in the envelope on the effectiveness of the certification. The review highlights that LEED was developed in the United States and bases its energy performance assessment on ASHRAE 90.1. Findings highlight significant energy performance variability among LEED-certified buildings due to factors like geographic location, building type, and discrepancies between predicted and actual energy consumption, often influenced by occupancy patterns and user behaviour. While higher certification levels generally correlate with better energy performance, lower levels frequently underperform. Additionally, in hot climates, thermal insulation strategies following ASHRAE guidelines may inadvertently increase cooling demands in buildings with high internal loads, hindering heat dissipation. In conclusion, although LEED represents a significant milestone in advancing sustainable construction practices, its energy performance framework requires refinement to better account for diverse climatic and cultural contexts, thereby optimising its contribution to energy efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Michelle Leite Ribeiro & Taylana Piccinini Scolaro & Enedir Ghisi, 2025. "LEED Certification in Building Energy Efficiency: A Review of Its Performance Efficacy and Global Applicability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1876-:d:1597344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Uğur, Latif Onur & Leblebici, Neşe, 2018. "An examination of the LEED green building certification system in terms of construction costs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1476-1483.
    2. Menezes, Anna Carolina & Cripps, Andrew & Bouchlaghem, Dino & Buswell, Richard, 2012. "Predicted vs. actual energy performance of non-domestic buildings: Using post-occupancy evaluation data to reduce the performance gap," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 355-364.
    3. Leslie Ayagapin & Jean Philippe Praene & Doorgeshwaree Jaggeshar & Dinesh Surroop, 2021. "Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: Effect of Electricity Decarbonization in Building Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fay Abdulla Alkhalifa, 2025. "Assessing the Predictive Power of LEED Certification on ESG Performance: Limitations and Implications for Holistic Sustainability Measurement," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(5), pages 7459-7473, October.
    2. Ali Mansouri & Mohsen Naghdi & Abdolmajid Erfani, 2025. "Machine Learning for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Credit Targeting: Project Attributes and Climate Analysis Toward Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-19, March.

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